When maybe a thousand years had passed, and hte first shadow had fallen on
Greenwood the Great, the Istari of
Wizards appeared in
Middle-earth. It was afterwards said that they came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the will of
Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate
elves or
men by force of fear.
They came therefore in the shape of Men, though they were never young and aged slowly, and they had many powers of mind and hand. They revealed their true names to few, but used such names as were given to them. The two highest of this order
(of whom it is said there are five) were called by the Eldar Curunir, The Man of Skill, and
Mithrandir,
the Grey Pilgrim.